Redirection of notifications to a wireless user device

ABSTRACT

Redirecting a notification to a wireless user device includes registering for notification of incoming messages for an account on a message server, the incoming messages being directed to an account on the message server. The redirecting also includes receiving at least one notification and redirecting the at least one notification through a firewall to a wireless user device associated with the account. The remote message server is in communication with a network protected by the firewall. According to one aspect, a cradle is configured to perform the redirection. According to another aspect, the cradle is associated with a remote desktop computer in communication with the network.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of computer science.More particularly, the present invention relates to a method andapparatus for redirecting notifications to a wireless user device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Users of personal digital assistants (PDAs) often desire to havetheir email messages or other notifications forwarded from theircorporate email account to their PDA. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate twotypical mechanisms for redirecting notifications to a PDA. Bothsolutions include a “redirector” application that resides behind acorporate firewall and pushes email messages from an email server to awireless user device. Examples of commercially available redirectorapplications include Symmetry Pro™, available from Infowave Corporationof Burnaby, British Columbia and BlackBerry™, available from Research inMotion (RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario.

[0003] Referring to FIG. 1A, a user's desktop computer 125 is incommunication with an email server or exchange server 100 via acorporate network such as a virtual private network (VPN) 110. Desktopcomputer 125 is also in communication with a cradle 130. Email server100 includes a redirector application 105 that is configured to forwardnotifications directed to a user's desktop computer 125 to the user'sPDA 120 through firewall 115 and via remote email directory 185.

[0004] Unfortunately, this solution typically requires the assistance ofa corporation's information technology (IT) manager to install theredirector application in the corporate network. Oftentimes, the ITmanager may not be able to justify the configuration effort and theexpense required to implement the solution.

[0005] Another solution places a redirector application on a user'sdesktop computer. This is illustrated in FIG. 1B. As shown in FIG. 1B, auser's desktop computer 170 is in communication with an email server orexchange server 155 via a corporate network such as a virtual privatenetwork (VPN) 160. Desktop computer 170 is also in communication with acradle 175. Desktop computer 170 includes a redirector application 180that is configured to log into email server 155 and forwardnotifications directed to a user's desktop computer 170 to the user'sPDA 150 through firewall 165 and via remote email server 190.

[0006] Unfortunately, mobile professionals typically use a laptop ormobile computer as their desktop computer and they typically take theircomputers with them when traveling, leaving nothing behind the corporatefirewall to forward notifications to a PDA.

[0007] Accordingly, a need exists in the prior art for mechanism thatallows notifications to be forwarded from a corporate network to ausers' wireless user device that does not require reconfiguring an emailserver or a user's desktop computer. A further need exists for such asolution that allows a wireless user device such as a PDA totransparently connect to a corporate network, without visibility by aVPN. Yet another need exists for such a solution that is relativelysimple to configure and maintain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Redirecting a notification to a wireless user device includesregistering for notification of incoming messages for an account on amessage server, the incoming messages being directed to an account onthe message server. The redirecting also includes receiving at least onenotification and redirecting the at least one notification through afirewall to a wireless user device associated with the account. Theremote message server is in communication with a network protected bythe firewall. According to one aspect, a cradle is configured to performthe redirection. According to another aspect, the cradle is associatedwith a remote desktop computer in communication with the network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or moreembodiments of the present invention and, together with the detaileddescription, serve to explain the principles and implementations of theinvention.

[0010] In the drawings:

[0011]FIG. 1A is a block diagram that illustrates a typical mechanismfor redirecting notifications to a personal digital assistant (PDA)using a redirector application installed on an email server.

[0012]FIG. 1B is a block diagram that illustrates a typical mechanismfor redirecting notifications to a personal digital assistant (PDA)using a redirector application installed on a desktop computer.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates a system forredirecting notifications to a wireless user device using a redirectorappliance in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a block diagram that illustrates a system forredirecting notifications to a wireless user device using a redirectorappliance in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 4 is an event sequence diagram that illustrates operation ofa redirector appliance in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram that illustrates a method for redirectinga notification to a wireless user device by registering with an exchangeserver in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a flow diagram that illustrates a method for redirectinga notification to a wireless user device by polling an email server inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention are described herein in thecontext of a method and apparatus redirecting notifications to awireless user device. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realizethat the following detailed description of the present invention isillustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Otherembodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves tosuch skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Referencewill now be made in detail to implementations of the present inventionas illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same referenceindicators will be used throughout the drawings and the followingdetailed description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0019] In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features ofthe implementations described herein are shown and described. It will,of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actualimplementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be madein order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliancewith application- and business-related constraints, and that thesespecific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from onedeveloper to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such adevelopment effort might be complex and time-consuming, but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those ofordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0020] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, thecomponents, process steps, and/or data structures may be implementedusing various types of operating systems (OS), computing platforms,firmware, computer programs, computer languages, and/or general-purposemachines. The method can be run as a programmed process running onprocessing circuitry. The processing circuitry can take the form ofnumerous combinations of processors and operating systems, or astand-alone device. The process can be implemented as instructionsexecuted by such hardware, hardware alone, or any combination thereof.The software may be stored on a program storage device readable by amachine.

[0021] In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognizethat devices' of a less general purpose nature, such as hardwireddevices, field programmable logic devices (FPLDs), including fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs) and complex programmable logic devices(CPLDs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or the like,may also be used without departing from the scope and spirit of theinventive concepts disclosed herein.

[0022] In the context of the present invention, the term “network”includes local area networks, wide area networks, the Internet, cabletelevision systems, telephone systems, wireless telecommunicationssystems, fiber optic networks, ATM networks, frame relay networks,satellite communications systems, and the like. Such networks are wellknown in the art and consequently are not further described here.

[0023] In the context of the present invention, the term “wireless userdevice” includes any device capable of wireless communication andcapable of rendering information to a user. The information may berendered, by way of example, by visual, auditory or tactile means.Exemplary wireless user devices include, by way of example, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a personal computer, a pager,or the like.

[0024] MAPI (Messaging Application Programming Interface) is a messagingarchitecture and a client interface component for applications such aselectronic mail, scheduling, calendaring and document management. MAPIis available on many Windows client operating systems, beginning withWindows 95. MAPI is also available on Windows® CE client operatingsystems dating back to 3.0. Windows® 95 and Windows® CE 3.0 areavailable from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.

[0025] The IMAP4 (Internet Message Application Protocol—version 4)protocol is described in Request for Comments (RFC) 2060, December 1996.Exemplary email servers that support IMAP4 include Lotus Notes®,available from IBM Lotus Software of Cambridge, Mass., Microsoft®Exchange, available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. andGroupwise®, available from Novell of Provo, Utah.

[0026] In the context of the present invention, the term “messagemonitoring protocol” refers to a communication protocol capable ofretrieving a message from an email server. Exemplary message monitoringprotocols include, by way of example, MAPI, IMAP4, POP3 (Post OfficeProtocol—Version 3), ActiveSync® and SyncML. The POP3 protocol isdescribed in “Post Office Protocol—Version 3”, RFC 1939, Network WorkingGroup, May 1996, available at www.ietf.org. ActiveSync® is availablefrom Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. The SyncML protocol isdescribed in “SyncML Synch Protocol, version 1.1”, Feb. 15, 2002,available at www.synchml.org.

[0027] In the context of the present invention, the term “messagedistribution protocol refers to a communication protocol capable ofdelivering a message to a wireless user device. Exemplary messagedistribution protocols include, by way of example, MAPI, IMAP4, POP3,ActiveSync®, Wireless ActiveSync and SynchML. Wireless ActiveSync® isavailable from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. A messagedistribution protocol may also comprise a protocol that uses anotherprotocol as a transport protocol. By way of example, a messagedistribution protocol may use Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP), ShortMessage Service (SMS), or the like, as a transport protocol.

[0028]FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate systems for redirecting notifications toa wireless user device using a redirector appliance in accordance withembodiments of the present invention. The redirector appliance includesa redirector that redirects notifications such as an email message or anindication of an email message to a wireless user device associated withan email account, regardless of whether a remote desktop computer is incommunication with the redirector. FIG. 2 illustrates a redirectorappliance that uses a network to communicate with a remote desktopcomputer, whereas FIG. 3 illustrates a redirector appliance that uses auniversal serial bus (USB) to communicate with a remote desktopcomputer.

[0029] Turning now to FIG. 2, a block diagram that illustrates a systemfor redirecting notifications to a wireless user device using aredirector appliance in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention is presented. System 200 comprises a redirector appliance 215,a wireless user device 245, an email server 210, a remote email server250 and optionally a remote desktop computer 225. Redirector appliance215 comprises a network switch 240, a message application interface 235and a redirector 230. Redirector appliance 215 may also comprise a meansfor receiving a wireless user device such as a PDA or the like. Networkswitch 240 is configured to interface between a network such as avirtual private network (VPN) 220 or the like, message applicationinterface 235 and remote desktop computer 225. Network switch 240 allowsboth remote desktop computer 225 and redirector appliance 215 tocommunicate with network 220, without requiring an additional networkjack on the users' office wall.

[0030] Many other devices or subsystems (not shown) may be connected ina similar manner. Also, it is not necessary for all of the devices shownin FIG. 2 to be present to practice the present invention. By way ofexample, remote desktop computer 225 is not required to practice thepresent invention. Furthermore, the devices and subsystems may beinterconnected in different ways from that shown in FIG. 2.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the present invention, redirectorappliance 215 comprises an embedded computer that operates under amessage monitoring protocol-enabled operating system. Additionally,message application interface 235 comprises a module that implements themessage monitoring protocol and redirector 230 is configured to registerfor notifications of email messages incoming to an email account on anexchange server 210 and redirect received notifications from emailserver 210 to wireless user device 245 through firewall 205.

[0032] In operation, redirector 230 registers for notifications toremote desktop computer 225 with exchange server 210. Redirector 210redirects notifications directed to remote desktop computer 225 towireless user device 245.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the present invention, anotification to wireless user device 350 comprises the actual emailmessage. The notification contents may be encrypted. Additionally, SMSmay be used as a transport protocol to deliver the email messagenotification to the wireless user device 350. Those of ordinary skill inthe art will recognize that other transport protocols may be used aswell.

[0034] According to another embodiment of the present invention, anotification to wireless user device 350 comprises an indication to theuser that new mail has arrived. The user may then use the wireless userdevice 350 to log in to an email server 305 using a secure protocol suchas SSL (Secure Socket Layer) or the like, and receive the email message.

[0035] According to another embodiment of the present invention, messageapplication interface 235 comprises a module that implements a messagedistribution protocol and redirector 230 is configured to log in toremote email server 210, periodically poll remote message server 210 fornew notifications directed to remote desktop computer 225 and redirectthe notifications to wireless user device 245 through firewall 205. Inoperation, redirector 230 logs in to remote message server 210 andperiodically checks for new notifications. Redirector 230 redirects thenotifications to wireless user device 245.

[0036] Turning now to FIG. 3, a block diagram that illustrates a systemfor redirecting notifications to a wireless user device using aredirector appliance in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention is presented. FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 except that remotedesktop computer 310, if present, communicates with redirector appliance320 via a universal serial bus (USB) interface. According to oneembodiment of the present invention, the remote desktop computer is themaster 310 on the USB and the redirector appliance 320 is the slave.

[0037] Many other devices or subsystems (not shown) may be connected ina similar manner. Also, it is not necessary for all of the devices shownin FIG. 3 to be present to practice the present invention. By way ofexample, remote desktop computer 310 is not required to practice thepresent invention. Furthermore, the devices and subsystems may beinterconnected in different ways from that shown in FIG. 3.

[0038] According to another embodiment of the present invention, thewireless user device (reference numeral 245 of FIG. 2 and referencenumeral 350 of FIG. 3) comprises a PDA and the redirector appliance(reference numeral 230 of FIG. 2 and reference numeral 335 of FIG. 3)comprises a smart PDA cradle.

[0039] Turning now to FIG. 4, an event sequence diagram that illustratesoperation of a redirector appliance in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention is presented. FIG. 4 illustrates registering fornotification of messages such as email messages directed to an emailaccount on an email server, redirecting a notification to a wirelessuser device 430 and redirecting requests from the wireless user device430. At 435, redirector appliance 415 registers with a remote messageserver 425. Remote message server 425 communicates the registrationrequest to message server 410. Upon receiving a message from a messageoriginator 405 directed to an email account on the message server,message server 410 sends the message to redirector appliance 415,redirector appliance 415 redirects notification of the message to remotemessage server 425 and remote message server 425 sends the notificationto wireless user device 445. If the notification comprises an indicationof a new message, the user of wireless user device 430 may communicatewith message server 410, possibly using a secure protocol as SSL, toobtain the message content.

[0040] Still referring to FIG. 4, upon receiving a request to print anemail message attachment from wireless user device 430, remote messageserver 425 sends the request to redirector appliance 415, redirectorappliance 415 redirects the request to message server 410, messageserver 410 sends the attachment to printer 400 and printer 400 printsthe attachment.

[0041] The examples presented in FIG. 4 are for purposes of illustrationonly and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Those of ordinaryskill in the art will recognize that many types of messages may beredirected by redirector appliance 415 through a firewall 420 to awireless user device 430. Those of ordinary skill in the art will alsorecognize that many types of requests sent by a wireless user device 445may be received by redirector appliance 440 and redirected.

[0042] Turning now to FIG. 5, a flow diagram that illustrates a methodfor redirecting a notification to a wireless user device by registeringwith an exchange server in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention is presented. At 500, a redirector registers with an exchangeserver for notifications of incoming email messages directed to an emailaccount on the exchange server. At 505, a determination is maderegarding whether a notification of incoming email messages has beenreceived. If a notification of incoming email messages has beenreceived, at 510 the notification is redirected to the wireless userdevice associated with the email account.

[0043] Turning now to FIG. 6, a flow diagram that illustrates a methodfor redirecting a notification to a wireless user device by polling anemail server in accordance with one embodiment of the present inventionis presented. At 600, a redirector logs in to an email server. At 605, adetermination is made regarding whether it is time to check for emailmessages directed to an email account associated with a user. If it istime to check for new email messages, the check is performed at 610. At615, a determination is made regarding whether there is at least one newemail message. If there is at least one new email message, the at leastone email message is retrieved at 620 and at 625 the at least one emailmessage is redirected to the wireless user device associated with theemail account.

[0044] The above description regarding message monitoring protocols andmessage distribution protocols is for the purpose of illustration and isnot intended to be limiting in any way. Those of ordinary skill in theart will recognize other communication protocols may be used.

[0045] While embodiments and applications of this invention have beenshown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the arthaving the benefit of this disclosure that many more modifications thanmentioned above are possible without departing from the inventiveconcepts herein. The invention, therefore, is not to be restrictedexcept in the spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for redirecting a notification to awireless user device, the notification received by a redirectorappliance providing a redirector service, the method comprising:registering for notification of incoming messages for an account on amessage server, said incoming messages directed to an account on saidmessage server, said message server in communication with a networkprotected by a firewall; receiving at least one notification; andredirecting said at least one notification through said firewall to awireless user device associated with said account.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 wherein said message server comprises an email server; and saidat least one new message comprises at least one new email.
 3. The methodof claim 2 wherein said message server comprises an exchange server; andsaid method further comprises using a message monitoring protocol toobtain said at least one notification.
 4. The method of claim 1 whereinsaid at least one notification comprises at least one message.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, further comprising encrypting said at least onemessage before said redirecting.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein saidat least one notification comprises at least one indication of at leastone message.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said redirecting furthercomprises using SMS (Short Message Service) as a transport protocol todeliver said at least one notification to said wireless user device. 8.A method for redirecting a notification to a wireless user device, thenotification received by a redirector appliance providing a redirectorservice, the method comprising: logging in to a message server;periodically checking for at least one new message directed to anaccount on said message server, said message server in communicationwith a network protected by a firewall; and redirecting a notificationof said at least one new message through said firewall to a wirelessuser device associated with said account.
 9. The method of claim 8wherein said message server comprises an email server; and said at leastone new message comprises at least one new email.
 10. The method ofclaim 9 wherein said method further comprises using a messagedistribution protocol to obtain said at least one notification.
 11. Themethod of claim 8 wherein said at least one notification comprises atleast one message.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprisingencrypting said at least one message before said redirecting.
 13. Themethod of claim 8 wherein said at least one notification comprises atleast one indication of at least one message.
 14. The method of claim 8wherein said redirecting further comprises using SMS (Short MessageService) as a transport protocol to deliver said at least onenotification to said wireless user device.
 15. A method for redirectinga notification to a wireless user device, the notification received by aredirector appliance providing a redirector service, the methodcomprising: step for registering for notification of incoming messagesfor an account on a message server, said incoming messages directed toan account on said message server, said message server in communicationwith a network protected by a firewall; step for receiving at least onenotification; and step for redirecting said at least one notificationthrough said firewall to a wireless user device associated with saidaccount.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein said message servercomprises an email server; and said at least one new message comprisesat least one new email.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said messageserver comprises an exchange server; and said method further comprisesstep for using a message monitoring protocol to obtain said at least onenotification.
 18. The method of claim 15 wherein said at least onenotification comprises at least one message.
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising step for encrypting said at least one message beforesaid redirecting.
 20. The method of claim 15 wherein said at least onenotification comprises at least one indication of at least one message.21. The method of claim 15 wherein said step for redirecting furthercomprises step for using SMS (Short Message Service) as a transportprotocol to deliver said at least one notification to said wireless userdevice.
 22. A method for redirecting a notification to a wireless userdevice, the notification received by a redirector appliance providing aredirector service, the method comprising: step for logging in to amessage server; step for periodically checking for at least one newmessage directed to an account on said message server, said messageserver in communication with a network protected by a firewall; and stepfor redirecting a notification of said at least one new message throughsaid firewall to a wireless user device associated with said account.23. The method of claim 22 wherein said message server comprises anemail server; and said at least one new message comprises at least onenew email.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein said method furthercomprises step for using a message distribution protocol to obtain saidat least one notification.
 25. The method of claim 22 wherein said atleast one notification comprises at least one message.
 26. The method ofclaim 25, further comprising step for encrypting said at least onemessage before said redirecting.
 27. The method of claim 22 wherein saidat least one notification comprises at least one indication of at leastone message.
 28. The method of claim 22 wherein said step forredirecting further comprises step for using SMS (Short Message Service)as a transport protocol to deliver said at least one notification tosaid wireless user device.
 29. A program storage device readable by amachine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machineto perform a method for redirecting a notification to a wireless userdevice, the notification received by a redirector appliance providing aredirector service, the method comprising: registering for notificationof incoming messages for an account on a message server, said incomingmessages directed to an account on said message server, said messageserver in communication with a network protected by a firewall;receiving at least one notification; and redirecting said at least onenotification through said firewall to a wireless user device associatedwith said account.
 30. The program storage device of claim 29 whereinsaid message server comprises an email server; and said at least one newmessage comprises at least one new email.
 31. The program storage deviceof claim 30 wherein said message server comprises an exchange server;and said method further comprises using a message monitoring protocol toobtain said at least one notification.
 32. The program storage device ofclaim 29 wherein said at least one notification comprises at least onemessage.
 33. The program storage device of claim 32, said method furthercomprising encrypting said at least one message before said redirecting.34. The program storage device of claim 29 wherein said at least onenotification comprises at least one indication of at least one message.35. The program storage device of claim 29 wherein said redirectingfurther comprises using SMS (Short Message Service) as a transportprotocol to deliver said at least one notification to said wireless userdevice.
 36. A program storage device readable by a machine, embodying aprogram of instructions executable by the machine to perform a methodfor redirecting a notification to a wireless user device, thenotification received by a redirector appliance providing a redirectorservice, the method comprising: logging in to a message server;periodically checking for at least one new message directed to anaccount on said message server, said message server in communicationwith a network protected by a firewall; and redirecting a notificationof said at least one new message through said firewall to a wirelessuser device associated with said account.
 37. The program storage deviceof claim 36 wherein said message server comprises an email server; andsaid at least one new message comprises at least one new email.
 38. Theprogram storage device of claim 37 wherein said method further comprisesusing a message distribution protocol to obtain said at least onenotification.
 39. The program storage device of claim 36 wherein said atleast one notification comprises at least one message.
 40. The programstorage device of claim 39, said method further comprising encryptingsaid at least one message before said redirecting.
 41. The programstorage device of claim 36 wherein said at least one notificationcomprises at least one indication of at least one message.
 42. Theprogram storage device of claim 36 wherein said redirecting furthercomprises using SMS (Short Message Service) as a transport protocol todeliver said at least one notification to said wireless user device. 43.An apparatus for redirecting a notification to a wireless user device,the notification received by a redirector appliance providing aredirector service, the apparatus comprising: means for registering fornotification of incoming messages for an account on a message server,said incoming messages directed to an account on said message server,said message server in communication with a network protected by afirewall; means for receiving at least one notification; and means forredirecting said at least one notification through said firewall to awireless user device associated with said account.
 44. The apparatus ofclaim 43 wherein said message server comprises an email server; and saidat least one new message comprises at least one new email.
 45. Theapparatus of claim 44 wherein said message server comprises an exchangeserver; and said apparatus further comprises means for using a messagemonitoring protocol to obtain said at least one notification.
 46. Theapparatus of claim 43 wherein said at least one notification comprisesat least one message.
 47. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprisingmeans for encrypting said at least one message before said redirecting.48. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said at least one notificationcomprises at least one indication of at least one message.
 49. Theapparatus of claim 43 wherein said means for redirecting furthercomprises means for using SMS (Short Message Service) as a transportprotocol to deliver said at least one notification to said wireless userdevice.
 50. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising means forreceiving means for receiving said wireless user device.
 51. Anapparatus for redirecting a notification to a wireless user device, thenotification received by a redirector appliance providing a redirectorservice, the apparatus comprising: means for logging in to a messageserver; means for periodically checking for at least one new messagedirected to an account on said message server, said message server incommunication with a network protected by a firewall; and means forredirecting a notification of said at least one new message through saidfirewall to a wireless user device associated with said account.
 52. Theapparatus of claim 51 wherein said message server comprises an emailserver; and said at least one new message comprises at least one newemail.
 53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said apparatus furthercomprises means for using a message distribution protocol to obtain saidat least one notification.
 54. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein said atleast one notification comprises at least one message.
 55. The apparatusof claim 54, further comprising means for encrypting said at least onemessage before said redirecting.
 56. The apparatus of claim 51 whereinsaid at least one notification comprises at least one indication of atleast one message.
 57. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein saidredirecting further comprises means for using SMS (Short MessageService) as a transport protocol to deliver said at least onenotification to said wireless user device.
 58. The apparatus of claim51, further comprising means for receiving said wireless user device.59. An apparatus for redirecting a notification to a wireless userdevice, comprising: a redirector configured to: register fornotification of incoming messages for an account on a message server,said incoming messages directed to an account on said message server,said message server and a remote desktop computer communicativelycoupled by a network protected by a firewall; receive at least onenotification; and redirect said at least one notification through saidfirewall to a wireless user device associated with said remote desktopcomputer; a network switch configured to interface between saidapparatus, said remote desktop computer and said network; and a messageapplication interface configured to interface between said redirectorand said network switch.
 60. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein saidmessage server comprises an email server; and said at least one newmessage comprises at least one new email.
 61. The apparatus of claim 60wherein said message server comprises an exchange server; and saidmessage application interface further comprises a module that implementsa message monitoring protocol to obtain said at least one notification.62. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein said at least one notificationcomprises at least one message.
 63. The apparatus of claim 62 whereinsaid redirector is further configured to encrypt said at least onemessage before redirecting said at least one notification.
 64. Theapparatus of claim 59 wherein said at least one notification comprisesat least one indication of at least one message.
 65. The apparatus ofclaim 59 wherein said redirector is further configured use SMS (ShortMessage Service) as a transport protocol to deliver said at least onenotification to said wireless user device.
 66. The apparatus of claim 59wherein said apparatus is further configured to receive said wirelessuser device.
 67. An apparatus for redirecting a notification to awireless user device, the apparatus comprising: a redirector configuredto: log in to a message server; periodically check for at least one newmessage directed to an account on said message server, said messageserver in communication with a network protected by a firewall; andredirect a notification of said at least one new message through saidfirewall to a wireless user device associated with account; a networkswitch configured to interface between said apparatus, a remote desktopcomputer and said network; and a message application interfaceconfigured to interface between said redirector and said network switch.68. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein said message server comprises anemail server; and said at least one new message comprises at least onenew email.
 69. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein said messageapplication interface further comprises a module that implements amessage distribution protocol to obtain said at least one notification.70. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein said at least one notificationcomprises at least one message.
 71. The apparatus of claim 70 whereinsaid redirector is further configured to encrypt said at least onemessage before redirecting said at least one notification.
 72. Theapparatus of claim 67 wherein said at least one notification comprisesat least one indication of at least one message.
 73. The apparatus ofclaim 67 wherein said redirector is further configured to use SMS (ShortMessage Service) as a transport protocol to deliver said at least onenotification to said wireless user device.
 74. The apparatus of claim 67wherein said apparatus is further configured to receive said wirelessuser device.
 75. An apparatus for redirecting a notification to awireless user device, comprising: a redirector configured to: registerfor notification of incoming messages for an account on a messageserver, said incoming messages directed to an account on said messageserver, said message server in communication with a network protected bya firewall; receive at least one notification; and redirect said atleast one notification through said firewall to a wireless user deviceassociated with said account; a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub tointerface between a remote desktop computer and said apparatus; anetwork interface configured to interface between said apparatus andsaid network; and a message application interface configured tointerface between said redirector and said network interface.
 76. Theapparatus of claim 75 wherein said apparatus is further configured toreceive said wireless user device.
 77. An apparatus for redirecting anotification to a wireless user device, the apparatus comprising: aredirector configured to: log in to a message server; periodically checkfor at least one new message directed to an account on said messageserver, said message server in communication with a network protected bya firewall; and redirect a notification of said at least one new messagethrough said firewall to a wireless user device associated with saidaccount; a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub to interface between a remotedesktop computer and said apparatus; a network interface configured tointerface between said apparatus and said network; and a messageapplication interface configured to interface between said redirectorand said network interface.
 78. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein saidapparatus is further configured to receive said wireless user device.